We consider you a partner in
your hospital care. When you are well informed, participate in your
treatment decisions, and communicate openly with your doctor and other
health care professionals, you can help make your care as effective as
possible. Pointe Coupee General Hospital encourages respect for the
personal preferences and the values of each individual. While a patient
in the hospital, your rights include the following:

1. You have the right to privacy, to considerate, respectful and
safe care and to be free from verbal or physical abuse or harassment.

2. You have the right to choose a personal attending physician.

3. You have the right to be well informed in a language you can
understand about your illness, possible treatments, and likely outcome
and to discuss this information with your doctor.

4. You have the right to know the names and roles of people treating you.

5. You have the right to refuse treatment and participate in experimental research

6. You have the right to confidentiality of your medical records and
the ability to obtain information contained in your records within a
reasonable time frame.

7. You have the right to form an Advance Directive, such as a Living
Will or Health Care Proxy. These documents express your choices about
your future care or name a representative if you cannot speak for
yourself. If you have a written Advance Directive, you should provide a
copy to the hospital, your family, and your doctor.

8. You have the right to be free from restraints and seclusion of
any form used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or
retaliation. Restraints are only used as a last resort to protect a
patient from injury as per a doctor's order.

9. You have the right to use personal belongings within reasonable limits that do not pose a safety risk.

SUMMARY OF PRIVACY PRACTICES NOTICE

Pointe Coupee General Hospital implements policies and procedures to
accommodate patient privacy rights as required by and specified in the
Privacy Rule of the Administrative Simplification provisions of the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Patients
cared for by have the following rights with respect to the privacy of
their health information:

To receive a paper copy of the agency's Notice of Privacy Practices

To lodge complaints about the agency's privacy practices

To request restrictions on the uses and disclosures of health information

To request to receive confidential communication

To access their protected health information for inspection and/or copying

To amend their health care information

To request an accounting of disclosures of health information

The privacy policies of Pointe Coupee General Hospital detail the
requirements for each of these rights and provide procedures for
implementation

The following are not explicit requirements of the Privacy
Rule but have been added to facilitate compliance efforts at Pointe
Coupee General Hospital:

Staff members are provided with annual training regarding patient rights with respect to their health information

Information related to patient privacy rights is included in the orientation program for new staff.

The Patient Rights and Responsibilities Statements include patient privacy rights.

Protecting your confidential health information is of utmost
importance to the Hospital Board, Administration, and staff of Pointe
Coupee Health Service District 1.

If you are concerned that we have violated your privacy rights, our
privacy policies, or if you disagree with a decision we have made about
access to your health information, please contact Pointe Coupee General
Hospital's Privacy Officer at (225) 638-5787 or send a written
complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.